Soundproofing enclosures

ABSTRACT

A soundproofing enclosure for machines or the like is disclosed in which similar pairs of soundproofing panels are mounted on opposite sides of the machine and cooperate when in the closed position to enclose the associated sides. The pairs of panels are supported by an extendable support structure which is positioned intermediate the ends of the enclosure frame when the panels are closed and is extendable beyond the stock supply end of the machine to permit full opening of the panels. Partial access is provided by moving either side panel into an overlapping position with the other. Full access is provided by moving both panels of each pair to overlapping positions beyond the stock supply end of the machine while supporting the panels with the extended support structure. End panels are hinged for opening and closing to provide easy access to the ends of the machine. The side panels are provided with vertical lower sections and inwardly sloped upper sections so that vertical and horizontal access is provided to the enclosed machine when the side panels are opened.

United I States atent 1191 Evans, Jr.

[ Sept. 16, 1975 1 SOUNDPROOFING ENCLOSURES William 0. Evans, Jr., 218 E. Streetsboro St., Hudson, Ohio 44236 [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1974 [2l] Appl. No.: 502,143

[76] Inventor:

[ 52] US. Cl. 181/33 K; 181/33 GB [51] Int. Cl. E04B 1/99 [58] Field of Search 181/33 K, 33 GB; 312/283,

Primary Examiner-Joseph W. Hartary Assistant ExaminerJohn F. Gonzales Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McNenny, Farrington,

Pearne & Gordon I [5 7 1 ABSTRACT A soundproofing enclosure for machines or the like is disclosed in which similar pairs of soundproofing panels are mounted on opposite sides of the machine and cooperate when in the closed position to enclose the associated sides. The pairs of panels are supported by an extendable support structure which is positioned intermediate the ends of the enclosure frame when the panels are closed and is extendable beyond the stock supply end of the machine to permit full opening of the panels. Partial access is provided by moving either side panel into an overlapping position with the other. Full access is provided by moving both panels of each pair to overlapping positions beyond the stock supply end of the machine while supporting the panels with the extended support structure. End panels are hinged for opening and closing to provide easy access to the ends of the machine. The side panels are provided with vertical lower sections and inwardly sloped upper sections so that vertical and horizontal access is provided to the enclosed machine when the side panels are opened.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures This invention relates generally to enclosures for ma- :chines or the like and more particularly to a novel and improved enclosure structure for enclosingnois'y machines and providing a soundproofing enclosure around suchmachinesu I P I R RT.

Soundproofing enclosures are sometimes usedto enclose various machines-to protect the people who must work with and are around such machines from-exposure to the full amount of noise generated by a particular machine. In someinstances, theenclosures are providedwith panels which can be opened or removed to provide access to the machine when it requires service. In my copending application for-United. States letters Patent, Ser. No. 394,833, filedSept.-6,.1973, Idisclosea soundproofing panel construction which..is particularly suited'for enclosing and soundproofing industrial machines, and the disclosure. of suchapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY oFT E INVENTIQN I In accordance with the present invention, I provide a novel and improved enclosure structure which is arranged when closed to substantially fullyenclose an operating machine, such-as; for. example, an automatic screw machine. L I Y The enclosure structureis arranged to permit sufficient access, by partial opening of theenclosure, to permit routine servicing of the machine-F For example, the enclosure is constructed so that simple and easy partial opening of the enclosure permits the changing or adjusting of the-tools of an automatic screw machine. When greater access to the machinegis required to perform more extensive servicing or general maintenance, the enclosure permits full openingto aidegree that easy access is provided to the entire machine.

In the illustrated embodiment, the enclosure utilizes relatively large panels which are more efficient in asoundproofing function andwhich aremore economical to produce. The mounting of the panels is arranged so that movement between their closed position, their partial open position, and their fully open'position is accomplished with ease since the panels. are fully supported in each position. Further, a structure is provided in which all of the side panels are compactly located beyond one end of the enclosure frame when fully.

opened so that they do not require excessive spacing between adjacent machines.

Generally, production machines suchasautomatic screw machines, and other types such as:forging mar;

chines,.are. supplied with-stock or raw rnaterial from one-end and therefore must be spaced at such-one end I BRIEF 'DESC Ip'r o or rn zoR w Nos ;..FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective illustration of one.

preferred embodiment of an enclosure structure, illustrating the structure in its closed position in which it encloses an automatic screw machine or the like;

1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the side panels in one partially open position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the side panels in the full open position in which they are'compactly located beyond one end of the enclosure frame; I

FIG. 4 is an end view of the enclosure from the supply or stock feed end of the machine;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF'TI-IE DRAWING Referring to FIGS. -1, 2, and 3, the enclosure includes a generally rectangular frame-including a front end assembly l1 and a substantially similar rear end frame as-.

sembly 12. The two frame assemblies 11 and 12 are connected by opposite lower side frame elements 13 and upper frame elements 14. The upper frame elements 14 are relatively closely spaced, and the upper portions of the ,end frameassemblies 11 and 12. are sloped inwardly at 16, as best illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower side rails 13 are spaced from the, floor structure since the particular enclosure structure is intended for use with an automatic screw machine of the type having a base pan which extends around the machine at a location spaced above the floor or supporting structure of the machine. The-enclosure is preferably sized so that it fits around the base pan and utilizes the base pan as the lower wall of the enclosure. With such an arrangement, access is provided to the lower base of the machine below the base pan even when the enclosure is fully closed. In other instances, the enclosure is extended completely down to the support floor andin such instances the side frame elements 13 are positioned at floor level.

The forward end of the enclosure is provided with a pair of hinged door panels 17 and 18 which operate when closed to close the forward end of the enclosure. When required, these door panels can be opened and hinged outwardly as illustrated in FIG. 3. The hinge structure for the door panels 17 and 18 is preferably arranged so that the panels can be lifted off the hinges when complete removal is-desired. The structure of the door panels and the other panels of the enclosure is preferable as disclosed in my co-pending application supra. However, this invention is not limited to an enclosure formed of such panels and other soundproofing panel structures may be used. The panels ordoors enclosing the rear end of the machine are disclosed in detail below.

An upper panel 19rests on the main frame structure and is easily removable to provide additional access.

A pair of panels 21 and 22 are provided on each side of the enclosure and are sized so that they overlap at their center when in the closed position and fully enclose the respective sides of the enclosure. Preferably thetwo panels are of equal-length or substantially equal lengthlso that each panel 21- or 22 of a pair of panels operates to encloseone-half of one side of the machine.

In the illustrated embodiment the panel 21 is provided with a window 23, so that the operation of the able since they increase the cost of manufacture ancl since they do not function with as great an efficiency in preventing the transmission of sound out from the enclosure.

The side panels 21 and 22 are supported by the frame by a structure described in detail below'for lengthwise movement from the closed position of FIG. 1. When partial access is required, for example, for the changing of tools or for the performance of minor maintenance.

oradjustment, the panel '21 is movable lengthwise of the machine toward the rearward or stock-feed end 24 of the enclosure until it overlaps the panel 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this position, access is provided to one-half of the machine within the enclosure. Conversely, the panel 22 can be moved toward the forward end of the machine enclosure untilit is positioned immediately behind the panel 21 while the panel 21 remains in this closed positionnThis particular partial open condition is not illustrated on the drawings.

When full'access to one or both sides of the machine is required for more extensive maintenance or the like, the pairs of panels 21 and 22 are movable lengthwise of the frame toa position as illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein both'panels are in a-compact overlapping condition and are located beyond the rearward end 24 of the frame. Extendable support members 26 and 26a are provided to support the associated pair of panels in such fully opened position. 1

Preferably the side panels 21 and 22 are formed with vertically extending side portions 27 and 28 respectively, and inwardly sloping upper portions 29 and 31 respectively. Therefore, when the panels are either partially opened or fully opened, they providea substantial amount of vertical access to the enclosed machine, as well as lateral access thereto.

In many installations it is desirable to provide a splash shield 32 within the enclosure which is positioned to protect the panels from Coolants or lubricants which may splash out from the tooling during the operation of the machine. In the illustrated embodiment a splash shield 32 is provided which is semicylindrical in shape and which is supported by rollers 33 (illustrated in FIG. 4) for lengthwise movement along a support track 34,

so thatit canbe positioned within the enclosure at the proper location for most effective splash control. The shield can be moved lengthwise of the machine to provide easy access to the various portions thereof. Preferably the supporting structure for the splash shield 32 is arranged so that it may be easily removed from an end of the enclosure when greater access is required to the machine within the enclosure.

The door panels for closing the rearward stock feed end of the enclosure are illustrated in FIG. 4. A pair of 37 to complete the enclosure structure. A stock feed dial system includes a rotatable dial member 39 supported byinserts in the door panels 36 and 37 and provided with a plurality of openings 41 through which stock is fed into the machine within the enclosure. It

should be understood that the illustrated form of struc- Since the respective support structures for the oppositely facing pairs of side panelsare similar, only one support structure need be described in detail with the understanding thatthe description applies equally to the other support structure. Referring to FIGS. 4 through 7, a pair of supporting guide blocks 46 are secured to the upper frame member 14, with one located substantially adjacent to the rearward end 24 of the frame and the other at a location slightly less than halfway down the member 14. An extension member 26 is supported, by the pair of guide blocks 46 for lengthwise sliding movement thereon from a retracted position in which the extension member 26 is positioned between thetwo ends of the frame and an extended position illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the extension member extends beyond the end of the frame.

The extension member 26 is provided with two upstanding flanges 47 and 48 which provide inturned ends 49 and 51 respectively and which rest and slide on the blocks 46 to support'the extension member. The extension member is also provided with downwardly extending walls 53, 54, and 56, which are also provided with inturned ends'57, 58, 59 and 61. The inturned ends are flanged upwardly to provide opposed walls to receive guide blocks 62 and 63, with a guide block 62 position between the inturned ends 57 and 58, and the guide block 63 positioned between the inturned ends 59 and The guide blocks 46, 62 and 63 are preferably formed ofa material such as Teflon' (registered trademark of E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co. for polytetrafluoroethylene) so that they will permit easy sliding movement of the associated panels thereon.

A pair of spaced guide blocks 62 are secured at spaced locations to an upper bracket 64 on the upper edge of the panel 22, and a pair of guide blocks 63 are to the lower frame member 13 with one pair substantially adjacent to the rearward end 24 of the enclosure hinged door panels 36 and 37 are mounted on the end 24 of the frame by simple hinges which permit the door frame and another pair approximately midway along the length of'the enclosure frame. The extension memis secured to the frame below the hinged panels 36 and zontal wall 72. Here again, side flanges 73 and 74 extend down along opposite sides of the guide blocks 71 to provide lateral positioning. The extension member 26a is also provided with upstanding flanges 76, 77, and 78, having inturned ends 81, 82, 83 and 84. A pair of spaced bearing blocks 86 are secured to the lower edge of the panel 22 and are positioned between the inturned flanges 81 and 82, normally in spacedrelationship with a horizontal surface 88 of the extension member to guide the panel 22 along the lower extension member 26a so that the panel 22 can be moved with respect to the extension member or moved with it as the case may be. Here again, the support blocks 86 are preferably formed of Teflon material or the like.

A similar pair of support blocks 89 are mounted at spaced locations along the panel 21 and positioned between the inturned flanges 83 and 84, normally in spaced relationship with a wall 91. Here again, Teflon is preferably used for the blocks 89 so that they will slide easily along the extension member 26a.

During the normal partial opening of the side panels in which one of a pair of panels is moved to overlap the other, the extension members 26 and 26a do not move with respect to the frame and remain within the ends of the frame. In such instances, the pairs of guide blocks 62, 86 and 63, 89 move along the respective extension members. However, when it is desired to move the side panels to the fully opened position of FIG. 3, the panel 21 slides along the frame until it overlaps the panel 22 as illustrated in FIG, 2, and then both panels are moved lengthwise along with extension members 26 and 26a to the fully opened position of FIG. 3.

Because the panels are fully supported in all'of their normal positions, the panel structures can be made relatively large without causing difficulty in moving the panels between their closed and opened positions. Further, since the side panels are moved clear of the frame at the supply end of the machine when fully opened, it is not necessary to provide extra floor space between machines.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, it should be understood that various modifications and rearrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed and claimed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine enclosure or the like comprising a generally rectangular frame having sides and ends, a pair of soundproofing side panels on each side of said frame, cooperating with each other in a closed position to close one side of said frame, each side panel being moveable in the direction of its length to an intermediate position in which it substantially overlaps the other panel of said pair to provide an opening and partial access to an enclosed machine, each pair of panels being moveable in the direction of its length to a fully opened position in which each panel is supported clear of said frame.

2. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein each pair of panels is positioned beyond one end of said frame and in overlapping arrangement when said panels are in said fully opened position.

3. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panels are supported by a frame extension when in said fully opened position; and said frame extension is positioned between the ends of said.

frame when said panels are closed.

4. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein an upper and lower extension member is provided on each side of said frame, each extension member being moveable between a retracted position intermediate the ends of said frame and an extended position in which it extends beyond one end of said frame, each extension member providing two guideways substantially parallel to each other, and means on each side panel positioned in one guideway of each associated extension member and supporting each panel for parallel movement relative to the other panel of the pair along its guideway.

5. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein said enclosure is adapted to enclose a machine which is supplied with stock through said oneend of said frame.

6. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein end panels are provided at the ends of said frame which are supported thereby for movement between opened and closed positions, and wherein the end panels at said one end of said frame allow stock feed to a machine while in the closed position.

7. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 6 wherein each side panel is provided with a generally vertical lower portion and an upper portion which extends inwardly over an enclosed machine. 8. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 7 wherein said upper portions are inwardly sloped.

9. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein a splash shield. is mounted within said frame for longitudinal movement relative thereto.

10. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein each side panel is provided with a generally vertical lower portion and an upper portion which extends inwardly over an enclosed machine.

11. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 10 wherein said upper portions are inwardly sloped.

12. A machine enclosure or the like comprising a generally rectangular frame having sides and ends, a side panel on each side of said frame, a frame extension on said frame supporting at least one of said panels, said panels being lengthwise moveable between a closed position and an open position in which each panel is located beyond oneend of said frame and supported by said frame extension, said frame extension being located between the ends of said frame when said panels are in said closed position.

13. A machine soundproofing enclosure for machine tools or the like comprising a generally rectangular frame having sides and ends, a unitary side panel on each side of said frame moveable between a closed position in which it provides soundproofing and an open position permitting access'to the interior of said enclosure, said side paneling including a vertical lower portion and an upper portion slanting inwardly when said panel is in a closed position, movement of each panel to its open position providing lateral and vertical access to an enclosed machine tool. 

1. A machine enclosure or the like comprising a generally rectangular frame having sides and ends, a pair of soundproofing side panels on each side of said frame, cooperating with each other in a closed position to close one side of said frame, each side panel being moveable in the direction of its length to an intermediate position in which it substantially overlaps the other panel of said pair to provide an opening and partial access to an enclosed machine, each pair of panels being moveable in the direction of its length to a fully opened position in which each panel is supported clear of said frame.
 2. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein each pair of panels is positioned beyond one end of said frame and in overlapping arrangement when said panels are in said fully opened position.
 3. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panels are supported by a frame extension when in said fully opened position; and said frame extension is positioned between the ends of said frame when said panels are closed.
 4. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein an upper and lower extension member is provided on each side of said frame, each extension member being moveable between a retracted position intermediate the ends of said frame and an extended position in which it extends beyond one end of said frame, each extension member providing two guideways substantially parallel to each other, and means on each side panel positioned in one guideway of each associated extension member and supporting each panel for parallel movement relative to the other panel of the pair along its guideway.
 5. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein said enclosure is adapted to enclose a machine which is supplied with stock through said one end of said frame.
 6. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein end panels are provided at the ends of said frame which are supported thereby for movement between opened and closed positions, and wherein the end panels at said one end of said frame allow stock feed to a machine while in the closed position.
 7. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 6 wherein each side panel is provided with a generally vertical lower portion and an upper portion which extends inwardly over an enclosed machine.
 8. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 7 wherein said upper portions are inwardly sloped.
 9. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein a splash shield is mounted within said frame for longitudinal movement relativE thereto.
 10. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein each side panel is provided with a generally vertical lower portion and an upper portion which extends inwardly over an enclosed machine.
 11. A machine enclosure or the like as set forth in claim 10 wherein said upper portions are inwardly sloped.
 12. A machine enclosure or the like comprising a generally rectangular frame having sides and ends, a side panel on each side of said frame, a frame extension on said frame supporting at least one of said panels, said panels being lengthwise moveable between a closed position and an open position in which each panel is located beyond one end of said frame and supported by said frame extension, said frame extension being located between the ends of said frame when said panels are in said closed position.
 13. A machine soundproofing enclosure for machine tools or the like comprising a generally rectangular frame having sides and ends, a unitary side panel on each side of said frame moveable between a closed position in which it provides soundproofing and an open position permitting access to the interior of said enclosure, said side paneling including a vertical lower portion and an upper portion slanting inwardly when said panel is in a closed position, movement of each panel to its open position providing lateral and vertical access to an enclosed machine tool. 